LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — As Mental Health Awareness Month continues through May, mental health professionals across Arkansas are encouraging families to have more open conversations with children about emotional well-being — while also warning that access to care remains a major challenge in many parts of the state.
Sarah McMorran, a Mental Health Professional II in Pulaski County, said children’s mental health is often overlooked, even though many young people struggle silently.
“It’s extremely important to advocate for mental health, especially for the children in our state,” McMorran said.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in five children ages 3 to 17 in the United States has been diagnosed with a mental, emotional or behavioral condition. Anxiety, depression and behavioral disorders remain among the most common diagnoses.
The CDC also reports that suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young people ages 10 to 24.
McMorran said one of the biggest issues is that adults often do not recognize the warning signs.
“It’s important to bring awareness of it just because of the fact that so often kids are struggling and people around them don’t realize that, and they don’t know it,” she said.
Mental health experts say parents and caregivers should begin conversations early and continue them regularly in low-pressure settings like car rides, walks or family dinners. Experts also recommend listening without immediately trying to solve the problem.
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Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia advises parents to focus on validating emotions, asking open-ended questions and creating judgment-free conversations about mental health.
Professionals also encourage caregivers to watch for warning signs, including:
• Withdrawal from family or friends
• Changes in sleep or appetite
• Declining grades
• Mood swings or emotional outbursts
• Loss of interest in activities
McMorran said even small check-ins can make a difference.
“Those are really important signs really just to go check in with your child, to see how your child is doing just by a simple, ‘Hey, how was your day today?’” she said.
Arkansas faces provider shortages
While awareness surrounding mental health has increased, access to treatment remains difficult for many Arkansas families.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, more than 1.4 million Arkansans live in communities without enough mental health professionals.
McMorran said the shortage is especially severe for children needing trauma-focused care.
“There’s definitely a shortage of therapists, especially trauma focused therapists, therapists that know how to work with children who have experienced trauma,” she said.
Mental Health America ranks Arkansas 39th overall in the nation when considering various mental health factors, including access to care.
Experts say rural communities often face the greatest barriers, with some families forced to travel long distances to receive specialized treatment.
Funding concerns add pressure
The conversation comes as behavioral health providers across Arkansas face financial pressures and staffing shortages.
Earlier this month, Arisa Health — which has served as the designated Community Mental Health Center in 41 Arkansas counties for more than 55 years — announced it would not submit a bid for a new state contract.
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When the current contract expires June 30, Arisa Health said it will close some locations and will no longer provide certain state-contracted services including mobile crisis response and forensic restoration programs.
Other providers, like CPC, have also faced funding challenges in recent months, including some organizations impacted by changes tied to grants overseen by the Arkansas Department of Human Services and the federal Victims of Crime Act Fund.
McMorran said funding directly impacts the care children receive.
“Lack of funding really impacts the amount of services that children receive, but also the quality of services that children receive,” she said.
Despite the challenges, McMorran emphasized that seeking therapy for a child should never be viewed as failure.
“It doesn’t mean that you have failed as a parent if your child needs therapy,” she said. “It really means that you are being an incredible caregiver and you’re listening to the needs of your child.”
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If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health concerns, resources are available through the Arkansas Department of Human Services website or the other links in the story above.
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